Typically, landlords will not directly rent out apartments for terms shorter than six months. However, they realize that there are tons of students out there looking for summer solstices. This is where subleasing comes in.

Subleasing consists of you - restless college student - renting from another tenant who is temporarily moving out. With subleases, landlord is relieved of many of hassles that come along with finding new tenants and making them happy. He or she doesn't have to worry about costs that come along with preparing apartment for new tenants or drawing up a new lease. This is now responsibility of original tenant.

So how do you protect your own interests as a tenant? Renters' insurance. If you're an apartment-dweller, you're probably accustomed to brochures dangling from your door that advertise various renters' insurance policies. And if you're like many renters, you probably disregard them. But you may want to consider taking out insurance. Before you say, "But I'm not going to cause any damage to my apartment," remember that renters don't always cause damage themselves. Mother nature, or other tenants with little regard for your property, could prove to be source of your problems later.